Call to bring forward affordable housing funds in England

Abena Oppong-Asare, Labour chair of the House of Commons housing committee, has called for funding from England’s social and affordable housing programme to be brought forward. Housing associations say that, if the money is released sooner, they could build 41,000 homes over ten years. The programme is worth £39 billion.

The debate is about the timing of public spending. In England, housing associations play a central role in developing and managing social and affordable homes. Earlier grant allocations can help with planning construction, buying land and arranging finance.

For landlords and tenants in Spain there is no direct effect. But the case illustrates a common issue in many housing markets: increasing affordable supply may require not only a budget, but also money arriving in time to get projects moving.